ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · wound · jam · firm · branch · hand · rush · rock

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. wound — an injury
  5. branch — a division
  6. firm — decided
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. rock — a stone
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. hand — help
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. rock — music
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. firm — a company
  20. wound — an injury
  21. firm — steady
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rock — to move gently

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com